Since it was first awarded in 1912, more than two million young men have achieved the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank of Eagle Scout.

On Saturday, Dec. 8, Joey Krambeer was honored in a special ceremony as he took an oath as an Eagle Scout and received his medal. Joey is in the five percentile of Boy Scouts to ever achieve this rank, which is the highest available in the Boy Scouting program.

To earn this achievement, Joey had to earn a minimum of 21 merit badges, demonstrate leadership and plan, develop and lead an extensive service project.

Joey’s service project was to design, schedule and coordinate the landscaping around City Hall in 2010. Joey was required to write a formal proposal and present it to Scoutmaster Tom Wurtzberger, as well as have his plans approved by the Twin Valley Council. Joey, along with volunteers from Boy Scout Troop 100, worked to remove old rocks and create a clean brick border along the grass as well as remove weeds, move bushes and lay down new landscaping rocks.

Joey finished his service project when he was just 16-years-old. Now a senior at St. Mary’s School, Joey said he will continue with the Boy Scouts Troop 100 as a junior leader.

Joey, who has been in Boy Scouts for 11 years, joined in first grade and progressively worked up the ranks as a Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and finally, Eagle.

He said earning the Eagle Scout badge was never his main goal for joining Boy Scouts.

“It’s a way to meet people, help others and create a strong bond with the community,” Joey said.

Requirements for earing an Eagle badge include earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating service and leadership in the troop.

Of the 21 merit badges Joey was required to earn to gain him Eagle status, he said the swimming merit was the most challenging.

“We had some fun times, but it wasn’t the easiest badge to get,” Joey added.